personate

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpəːs(ə)neɪt/

verb

[with object] formal
  • play the part of (a character in a drama): here was our village cobbler in a French uniform, personating the general
  • pretend to be (someone else), especially for fraudulent purposes such as casting a vote in another person’s name: he personated the king [no object]: he found himself personating at an election

Derivatives

personation

Pronunciation: /-ˈneɪʃ(ə)n/
noun

personator

noun

Origin:

late 16th century: from late Latin personat- 'represented by acting', from Latin persona 'mask' (see person)